All Things Wedding From Wedding Stationery to Bridal Wear

For many women, their wedding day is likely to be one of the most important occasions of their life.

For this reason, they will want everything to be perfect, from the wedding flowers to the venue and the photography.

Of course, all this costs money and one expert claims that instead of cutting back on what is important to them, couples are waiting longer to tie the knot so that they can save up more money.

Editor of Wedding Ideas magazine Rachel Morgan explained that brides-to-be are also being "smarter with their purchases" when it comes to buying their gowns.

To do this, they are "going to shops which are doing discounts like buy the wedding dress here, get money off the bridesmaid dresses," she said.

Her comments come after a survey conducted by Ultralase revealed that 38 per cent of brides-to-be think trouser suits are a fashion no-no, while 12 per cent do not agree with wearing flat shoes on the big day.

If you haven't yet created your perfect wedding gift list, come and see how we can help…

This article was originally posted onHitched.

When your wedding date falls on someone else’s birthday or anniversary, there are a few ways you can react:

1. Pretend like you don’t know. Feign surprise when people toast to them at your wedding.
2. Ask them to celebrate it on a different day. Feign surprise when people don’t toast to them at your wedding.
3. Plan a sweet and sneaky surprise like this couple did:

Source for both photos

We don’t have any special occasions on our exact wedding date, but we do during the week before and after. We’ve chosen to celebrate them at our wedding, because we stink at feigning surprise… and because we love these people!

When we first chose our wedding date, I realized how close it was to my brother and sis-in-law’s wedding date! It will be their third anniversary, and I’ve been planning a little surprise for them since I started planning our wedding. I’m motivated by love and a little twinge of guilt. You see, I was born on my brother’s second birthday, which means he never got a birthday to himself. And now, I’m nearly taking his wedding anniversary! He just can’t get a special day to himself. I want to honor their anniversary at our wedding to thank him for sharing all his celebrations with me so graciously.

When we told my mom our wedding date, she suggested we have my nephew and niece’s christening the following day. Our extended family will be in town, which never happens anymore, and it’ll give people another reason to celebrate! Mr. Parfait and I love this idea—it would make our weekend even richer.

When we told Mr. Parfait’s mom our wedding date, she asked if she could bring a birthday cake for Mr. P’s little sis, who is turning 21 the week before our wedding. Of course, we encouraged her to do so! I’d love to present the cake with Mr. Parfait, like the couple pictured above.

Are you celebrating someone else’s special day during your wedding or wedding weekend?

This article was originally posted onWeddingbee.

Last weekend during my shower in Pittsburgh I was given some amazing gifts. We really cleaned up and were reminded how insanely generous our families and friends are! And while I could swoon over the registry gifts we received all day, I wanted to share a little something different with you all.

Ladies, meet the Panty Parfait.

(please notice that there is even a “cherry” on top!)

The Cheeseburger Bridesmaids really wowed me with this one! The entire vase (and what a beautiful Waterford vase it is!) was filled with undies of different colors, materials, and styles, and quite a few of them were accompanied by notes!

And then I found out that these notes told a little story when read in order. Come on, follow along with me:

Panty #1: A beautiful eggplant pair, our wedding purple!

Ooooh a sexy underwear parfait!? I was intrigued…

Panty #2: Beautiful Bride panties from VS for our wedding day!

I was blushing for sure at this point… nothing like announcing to a room full of my great aunts that I’m not so “innocent”.

Panty #3: A sexy red pair for our honeymoon!

“The next pair are for your honeymoon

So sexy – red and lace

We hope you leave the hotel room

‘Cause Riviera Maya’s a gorgeous place!”

At this point, I decided to hold off on reading these out loud to 60 family members… I revisited the rest for a smaller group later on in the afternoon

Panty #4: A beautiful black pair, the note reads -

“For your first knock-down, drag out fight

As a married couple

When Dan sees you in this little number

He’ll forgive you on the double!”

Panty #5: A pretty white pair for our first anniversary

Panty #6: A pair the same color blue as our scrubs! This one is to signify our graduation from medical school:

“When you and Dan become M.D.s

and begin to wear your “blues”

(they needed something to rhyme, haha )
These will help you keep your sex life

From taking a little snooze”

Panty #6: These are my favorite pairs, hands down… take a look at that poem, too cute!

“When the time is right for you and Dan
And don’t be saying maybe
You’ll wear a little pink or blue
In honor of your baby!”

Panty #7 & 8: For later down the road, some gorgeous pairs!

Panty #9: And lastly, a pair of granny panties… the sexiest ones I’ve seen!

In addition to the ones with notes, I got a bunch of other beautiful pairs! I have to admit, it’s going to be hard to hold off on wearing these, but hey, I think they wanted me to wear them sooner rather than later anyway!

Were you gifted lingerie in a less than traditional way? Anyone going to bust out this gift to a friend or family member?

This article was originally posted onWeddingbee.

Following the successful launch of Ice White Weddings for winter 2009 Ramada Jarvis has launched Winter Wonderland Weddings for Winter 2010 & 2011 with the opportunity to upgrade free of charge to either an ice white wedding theme or a red tie and tiara theme.

'Our Ice White wedding packages were so popular this year for both Christmas and New Year weddings that we have extended this into 2010 and beyond and added a new Red and Silver theme under the title of Red Tie and Tiaras.' Said Joanna Fisher Director of Conference & Events for Ramada Jarvis.

If you are planning a winter wedding then a Ramada Jarvis wedding reception might be the perfect option.

The Ramada Jarvis group are also offering wedding couples the opportunity to receive a £250 credit towards their bar bill, for weddings more than £3000 +, and £150 credit for weddings booked between £1500 and £3000.

The above offer is valid for any 2010 weddings confirmed and paid for before the 28th of February 2010.

With Valentines Day just around the corner this might be the perfect opportunity to pop the question and start planning your 2010 wedding with Ramada Jarvis.

This article was originally posted onHitched.

Now we’ve tackled the environment, aging, tightening of pores, and acne. What’s next? Puffy eyes.

There is no part of your face that gives away more about you than your eyes. They express emotion, you can smile with them like Tyra, they can display the puffy remains of too much boozing, or the all-nighter you pulled for work or school. There are two tricks you probably already know about to disguise tired eyes––cucumber slices and MASSIVE sunglasses, but massive sunglasses might not be the way to go for your wedding. The final two tricks I have are part of a little group I like to call Baked Potato Beauty.

What you need:

• 1/2 raw potato
• 1 tsp moisturizer

Instructions:

Peel potato and grate finely. Measure 2 teaspoonfuls of the grated potato into the teaspoon of moisturizer. Mix well. Apply liberally around eyes, and cover with damp cotton pads or gauze. Let rest 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

I got a lot of slack from everyone for not posting my tomato-faced picture, so I’ll oblige this time with my potato eyes even though I look ridiculous:

(Don’t ever say I don’t love the readers of Weddingbee, look at me!)

I was a little scared to do this one because of my recent eyelash additions, so I just used this underneath my eyes, though you could probably do it on your lids, too. While I was using this though, I could feel the puffiness evaporating. I really couldn’t believe it. My eyes were majorly de-puffed after doing this. It was a little messy because potatoes retain some water, which isn’t a good thing when it’s mixed with the lotion. But it works! My modification for next time might be potato slices (not grated) minus the moisturizer. It would be a lot simpler and cleaner and maybe provide the same results. Do any of you want to try this trick or the modified trick?

Up next? Dark circles. I saved the best for last!

This article was originally posted onWeddingbee.

Before they enjoy a big slice of wedding cake at their reception, brides-to-be may want to follow some diet tips to ensure their skin is glowing when they walk down the aisle.

According to Saks beauty guru Kristy Jewson, a few well-chosen foods can help women to get their skin in such good condition that they feel confident enough to wear less makeup.

She said: "You are what you eat so as well as a good skincare routine you should look at what foods you are eating."

Ms Jewson advised consuming antioxidants such as spinach, berries and green vegetables because they are all anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory.

Similarly, oily fish and flax seeds can be a good addition to a bride's diet, as they contain essential fatty acids and could ensure that a woman feels and looks great when she puts on her wedding dress.

A study conducted by St Ives found that one in five men thinks their partner wears too much makeup, while one in ten like girls who wear no makeup at all.

Click through for a top of the range list of beautiful wedding dresses

This article was originally posted onHitched.

Right after Mr. Buttons proposed, I wanted to be stubborn and keep my hair the way that I like it. Why should I have to change because of one singular day in my life?

However, the reality is that I have very very fine hair. And it is stick straight. It does not hold a curl without about 10 pounds of hairspray involved. Yummm, who likes crunchy hairstyles???

source

source

Can you imagine how much hairspray is involved in that?

source

I love this photo, as it is a beautiful example of looking natural for your wedding, but personally, I don’t want my hair to look pretty much the same as I wear it every single day. This, after all, is NOT a typical day!

After some more searching, I DID run across one set of inspiration photos that made me very hopeful. Mrs. Cheese’s inverted bob transformed into bridal hair was so extremely successful! Seriously, how beautiful was she???

source

Well, call me insecure, but I just wasn’t ready to rock the short hair on my wedding day. And, as you know, I started to grow it out to a reasonable length.

The last time I visited my stylist, we talked wedding hair. Before she started chopping away a like I am used to, I asked her what I would be realistically able to achieve with the hair that I have, and how much length I could feasibly add in the time period I have to work with. I have to love her, because she immediately responded with, “I know EXACTLY what I want to do with your hair.”

Apparently, my hair will grow about ½ of an inch a month, which will put me at total growth of 4 extra inches by the time the wedding comes around. That will put me at a few inches below the shoulders, assuming that I don’t freak out and chop it off myself before then, a la Brit Brit!

source

She suggested a low chignon, with a lot of teasing/volume on the top of my head. I rushed home and started to look at some ideas. And breathed a sigh of relief, because these look like feasible styles!

source

I love this picture…I have long bangs like this photo, and I love how it is an “updo” without looking too formal. I think that with my projected hair growth, this is an achievable look.

But, my stylist also mentioned that we can add some “extension” without physically attaching hair. There is the option of adding some “extension” inside the chignon itself to make it look fuller. I’m digging this idea… especially after Mr. Buttons and I turned on the movie What Happens In Vegas the other night. And I fell in love with this…

And yes, after searching high and low for photos online, I had to pause the movie at multiple times to take screen shots of the hair style at all angles (how in the world are there none online???).

(all images are personal photos)

Did you find hair inspiration somewhere you weren’t expecting? How did you find the perfect coif for the big day? Did your hairdresser give an opinion of his/her own?

This article was originally posted onWeddingbee.

We’ve had SUCH a variety of stylish weddings in our list of faves. I was so surprised no one picked the same wedding… each member of the SMP team had a completely unique affair in mind when we asked them to tell us about their favorite wedding. Much like the rest of us, Shawna, one of our fabulous LBB research colleagues, was head over heels for more than one, but in the end this super chic NYC wedding was still calling her name.

From Shawna…

This is it, the moment I fell in love with anemones and loft weddings. I’m a happy girl when there is a whole day feature on a wedding that is so flawless and classic.

Tara really did it right when she incorporated the fancy modern calligraphy in a mostly black and white scheme. This important detail added tons of style to her wedding.

I love that the CB2 table runner brings in a large floral element to the table without actually doing large florals. This wedding made me keep checking back on SMP for more throughout the day….the ideas are so do-able!

Vendor Credits: Event Design by Barbara of Hatch Creative Studio / photography by Heather Waraksa /Artwork by Mike Shankman / Calligraphy by Paperfinger

You can read more about the couple and their vision behind the day right here in the original post from March (we know the wedding’s not from 2009, but that’s when we featured it so it’s fair game).

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments |
Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Favorites 2009, Fur Wrap, Hatch Creative Studio, Heather Waraksa, Mike Shankman, New York, Paperfinger, Winter Wedding
Post categories: Contemporary, Real Weddings, Wedding Invitations & Stationery, Wedding Style

This article was originally posted onStyle Me Pretty.

There are so many stunning weddings out there we could literally do this every week! I have a new favorite wedding just about every other day. But the fun part about this (besides of course, the amazing weddings) is seeing the all different choices and styles the SMP staff really connected with, everyone had something different to share…

From LBB research colleague, Alicia…

I am completely smitten with this wedding! I grew up in New England, so when I think about getting married in Rhode Island, Newport is the first thing that comes to mind. It is the quintessential sailing town, with a mix of quaint boutiques and upscale restaurants.

The pictures of this wedding make it seem like just that, the perfect mix of elegant and fun. Besides the fact that the bride is stunning and her gown is to die for, this wedding to me, looks like one that you wish you had been lucky enough to attend. The venue is Belle Mer which is located on Goat Island, alongside the Newport Bridge.

I am loving the sophisticated black and white color scheme, those cute little fingerprint details, and that amazing ballroom drenched in warm up-lighting! Everything is just so elegant. You can absolutely tell this couple has great style and created one truly spectacular event! So fun!!!!

Vendor Credits: Venue: Belle Mer, Newport RI / Photographer Kristin Spencer / Floral Design by Stone Blossom / Lighting Ormonde Productions / Planner: Donna Kim of The Perfect Details / Gown, Ramona Keveza from Kleinfelds

Love this wedding? There is so much more eye candy on Kristin’s blog, just click right here to see all the amazing details.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 10 comments |
Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Belle Mer, Favorites 2009, Kristin Spencer, Nautical, Newport, Ormonde Productions, Ramona Keveza, Stone Blossom, The Perfect Details
Post categories: Contemporary, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Style

This article was originally posted onStyle Me Pretty.

We’re on the brink of a new decade! During the last ten years, we’ve seen some of the most extravagant bridezilla weddings ever. Before the clock strikes midnight and a new year begins, let’s take a look at our favorite bridezillas.

10. Star Jones

The ultimate bridezilla got her 2004 wedding to Al Reynolds sponsored by plugging products on The View. How tacky. Three years later, she divorced because she was “tired of footing the bill.” Um….

9. Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise

Katie Holmes isn’t the bridezilla, it’s Tom Cruise. Long ago, we gave him the title of biggest bridezilla of all time because of his Napoleon complex and control issues. Katie can’t even wear heels! His couch jumping proclamation of love started it all and the story had its storybook ending with a grand $2 million dollar wedding in Lake Bracciano, Italy. The couple spent $180,000 on wine and champagne. Groan.

8. Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey

Only a detail-oriented bridezilla could pull off this fairytale wedding. Simpson had to be one of those girls who carried a wedding binder around in high-school. To add to her bridezilla street cred, Simpson wrote a book about having a celebrity-style wedding on a budget, titled I Do: Achieving Your Dream Wedding. (There was nothing “cheap” at her wedding, except for Lachey) The couple divorced a few years later.

7. Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar

Hurley was rumored to have worn 13 different dresses at her $2.5 million dollar wedding to Arun Nayar. More than two dresses makes you a bridezilla in our book.

6. Speidi

One Hollywood name, two weddings, countless reality shows. Need we say more? There’s no question in our minds that Speidi is one of the biggest bridezillas of the decade, after all, in 2008 we awarded him bridezilla of the year. But who’s the bigger bridezilla, Spencer or Heidi?

5. Melania Knauss and Donald Trump

Donald Trump does everything big, so it’s no surprise that he went for the big bridezilla wedding. The couple spent a whopping $500,000 on flowers that likely wilted days later. Try and Trump that.

4. Madonna and Guy Ritchie

Madonna and Guy Ritchie had a $1.5 million dollar wedding in the year 2000 at Skibo Castle in Scotland. Always the trend setter, after Madonna’s Scottish soiree, castle weddings were en vogue. The couple divorced in 2008.

3. Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt

Remember how much everyone adored Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt? Their wedding was a lavish $1 million dollar Hollywood soiree with champagne and lobster. The star-studded guest list included Cameron Diaz and Courteney Cox. Money doesn’t buy love. They divorced in 2006.

2. Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones

They spent $100,000 on mouth watering Godiva Chocolate wedding favors and he proposed with a 10-carat marquise diamond. On their wedding day, the Mumbles in Swansea, Catherine’s birthplace lined the streets with flags and banners. You know you’re a bridezilla if your hometown has a small parade for your wedding!

1. Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren

$1.5 million dollar wedding in 2004. A reception featuring entertainment by Hootie and the Blowfish. A massive fireworks display and a-list celebrity guests. What happened during the vows that lead to Woods cheating with nasty diner waitresses five years later? Money can’t buy true love!

This article was originally posted onBridezilla.